Now Commenting On:

Amaro mum on negotiations with Hamels

Amaro mum on negotiations with Hamels

PHILADELPHIA -- Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said the lines of communication with Cole Hamels' agent, John Boggs, remain open, but offered no new details on contract negations.

The contract situation for Hamels, who is a free agent at the end of this season, has been a hot topic among Phillies fans.

"Cole's not the only issue that we have right now. We've got a lot of other ones," Amaro said. "We've got a third baseman [Placido Polanco] who's going to be a free agent. We've got a center fielder [Shane Victorino] who's going to be a free agent. We've got a starting pitcher in [Joe] Blanton who's going to be a free agent. We've got another starter in Cole. They're are a lot of pieces to the puzzle.

"[Cole is] one of the priorities. But we're still trying to figure out what we're going to do with our club. He is a priority. There's no question we'd like to keep him. We have a lot of other things to think about, too."